[email protected] Tel: (868) 667-4655 December 2017 Our Icelandic Relations Guide, Jessie Pitt, gives some of the Icelanders, along with other guests, an introduction for the Oilbird tour. Photo: Elin Laxdal By Peter O’Connor estate operations became financially unviable, some of these people purchased it and established the Asa Wright There are no formal diplomatic relations between the Nature Centre. The proceeds from the sale of Spring Hill island nations of Iceland and Trinidad and Tobago. But Estate were used by Ása to establish a trust fund for the deep bonds have existed between us, islands close to the National Museum of Iceland, to support the Icelandic Equator and an island on the edge of the Arctic Circle, for Scientific Society. The Asa Wright Nature Centre was over 50 years. opened in November 1967, and the trust fund founded About a dozen Icelanders came to visit us in November. in Iceland in 1968. They came to cement a bond, established tenuously So, our Icelandic friends and colleagues came here to in the 1940s, but formalized in the late 1960s, and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Asa Wright Nature acknowledged more in Iceland than in Trinidad and Centre. And some of us will visit them in Iceland during Tobago. They came to honour a countrywoman of theirs, 2018 to celebrate the anniversary of Ása’s trust fund there. who came to live among us, in a rural setting, on a coffee They came to share their work with us, the work begun and cocoa estate high in the forested Northern Range. The by Ása, and quietly ongoing all through these years. They Spring Hill Estate became the home of Henry Newcombe are working on the production of a film connecting Asa’s Wright and his Icelandic wife, Ása Guðmundsdóttir work and legacy here with her legacy and their ongoing Wright. But it also was, and still is, the home of hundreds work in Iceland. of varieties of beautiful tropical birds, and of almost all of the species of mammals and reptiles that live in Trinidad! What a contrast in the settings for these visitors! They And of course, most of the species of butterflies, beetles, left the edge of the Arctic Circle in November to visit a ants and other insects, all feeding upon each other and tropical rainforest close to the Equator, because one of the perfumed flowers and fruit of the tropical rainforest. their own had chosen a tropical rainforest in which to live, and indeed, to die. But they also came to celebrate a lady And all of this, plus Ása’s hospitality, attracted renowned who had chosen to create a meaningful bond between and even amateur naturalists and scientists to the Arima these two disparate islands. But these recent visitors were Valley and specifically to Spring Hill. And thus, when the not all strangers to our environment, nor indeed to Ása. Continues on next page Design and Layout courtesy Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Ltd, a friend of the Asa Wright Nature Centre DECEMBER • PAGE 2 December 2017 Our Icelandic Relations (continued) From previous page Sigrún Ása Sturludóttir is the Chair of the Ása Guðmundsdóttir Wright Scientific Fund in Iceland. She is also the great-niece of Asa Wright, and visited Spring Hill as a child and shared some of her memories with us. Karitas Kristjánsdóttir was an air stewardess with Pan American, who flew through Trinidad, when she heard of an Icelander living in the mountain forests of our Northern Range. She and Dr. Orest Zaklynsky made friends with Asa, as well as with early supporters Don and Ginny Eckelberry, and visited Spring Hill more than once. Hrafnhildur Hanna Gunnarsdóttir is a cousin of Sigrún, and is also the Chair of the Icelandic Filmmakers Association. She is the “recorder” Sigrún Ása Sturludóttir, the great-niece of Asa Wright, addresses everyone at the 50th anniversary of the Icelanders’ visit and is making a cocktail event. Photo: Lizelle’s Photography documentary on Asa’s life. Dr. Inga Dóra Björnsdóttir is the author of Ása Wright’s biography “Wife of Three Islands - A Biography of Ása Guðmundsdóttir Wright”. These good people and their companions really brightened the 50th anniversary of the Asa Wright Nature Centre. YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALIST OF THE MONTH If you think your child, aged 5-16, has done something helpful to preserve the environment, please feel free to share it with us. Either write a short story or send a few pictures to [email protected]. He/she may be selected as our Young Environmentalist of the Month. Once your child is featured in our monthly newsletter, he/she and two adults will be given a complimentary day visit to Asa Wright Nature Centre, which includes viewing birds/animals on the verandah, a nature tour and use of the clear water pool. Design and Layout courtesy Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Ltd, a friend of the Asa Wright Nature Centre DECEMBER • PAGE 3 December 2017 50th Anniversary A Weekend of Festivities (L-R) AWNC Chairman, Graham White, Dr. Sigurdur Thorvaldsson and Dr. Orest Zaklynsky Photo: Lizelle’s Photography (L-R) AWNC Board Members Jeunanne Alkins and Pramenath Narinesingh with June De Gale-Rampersad, Shinelle Padmore and Wildlife Photographer Roger Neckles. Photo: Lizelle’s Photography (L-R) Vishnu Debie, Vice Principal of Arima North Secondary School, Peg By Johanne Ryan Abbot, owner of Caligo Ventres and Mike Rutherford, Curator of the U.W.I. Zoology Museum (right). Photo: Lizelle’s Photography In our 50th year, 2017, we celebrated two special days on November 11th and 12th. We hosted our Annual General Board Meeting on Saturday 11th, while our special guests travelled to Port of Spain to visit the graves of Ása Guðmundsdóttir Wright and Charles William AWNC’s longest serving Board Members Beebe. Back at the Nature Centre that evening, the guests joined us in a ceremony which paid tribute to our long-serving Board Members. Ian Lambie ...................................................... 1975 We were treated to presentations by Sigrún Ása Sturludóttir, (Ása’s Dr. Julian Duncan ......................................... 1977 grand-niece), Dr. Inga Dóra Björnsdóttir, Malcom Strandberg and Ian Lambie. Sigrun’s presentation gave a videographic peek at life Raymond Mendez ....................................... 1980 at Springhill long ago, showing the Centre’s namesake, Asa Wright. Phil Schaeffer................................................. 1983 The function ended with a sweet serenade of live parang music. Our expert staff prepared a delicious dinner. Dr. Carol James ............................................. 1990 The anticipated Cocktail Reception at Ortinola Estate took place on Dr. Robert Thomas ...................................... 1992 Sunday 12th. AWNC’s staff, Board Members and friends, joined to Christine Toppin-Allahar ........................... 1995 hear tributes paid to AWNC from Icelandic and local guests. Persons Dr. Judith Gobin ........................................... 2005 who knew Ása, as well as those with a long association with the Centre, shared their insights. Thank you everyone for making this a memorable weekend. Design and Layout courtesy Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Ltd, a friend of the Asa Wright Nature Centre DECEMBER • PAGE 4 December 2017 AWNC Conservation Officer, Johanne Ryan and Board Member, David Oehler. , Elin Laxdal and Hrafnhildur (l-r) Claire Storrs-Foxx, Sigrún Ása Sturludóttir Photo: Lizelle’s Photography Gunnarsdóttir by Malcom Strandberg. Photo: Lizelle’s Photography Susan Sprunt (left) and Joy Mendez. Board Member, Raymond Mendez and his wife, Joy Mendez, with Gus James. Photo: Lizelle’s Photography Photo: Lizelle’s Photography AWNC’s longest serving Board Member, Ian Lambie, addresses the crowd. Photo: Lizelle’s Photography Board Members, Christine Toppin-Allahar (left) and Dr. Judith Gobin (right), with Claire Storrs-Foxx. Photo: Lizelle’s Photography Dining Room Supervisor, Paula Quintero-Barker, Shinelle Dickson and Shelly-Ann Dickson. Photo: Lizelle’s Photography Design and Layout courtesy Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Ltd, a friend of the Asa Wright Nature Centre DECEMBER • PAGE 5 December 2017 General Manager, Ann Sealey. Owner of Eureka Natural History Tours, Jason Radi (left) and Board Member, Dr. Robert Photo: Lizelle’s Photography Thomas. Photo: Lizelle’s Photography (L-R) Sigrún Ása Sturludóttir Manager, Corporate Communications, Deputy General of the Manager,Ministry of June Tourism, De Gale-Rampersad; Sherma Mitchell. and Photo: Lizelle’s Photography (L-R) Jessie Pitt, Ayeola Duncan, Staff members enjoy the ambience. Shirleen Bulze, Kimmy Mitchell and Kevin Plaza. Photo: Lizelle’s Photography taff members Pamela Allemany (left) and Indira Ramdass (right) with Board Member, Courtney Buechert Lizelle’s Photography Vice Chair, Phil Schaeffer with his wife, Margaret and Board Member, Dr. Carol James. Photo: Lizelle’s Photography Design and Layout courtesy Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Ltd, a friend of the Asa Wright Nature Centre DECEMBER • PAGE 6 December 2017 A Day Out The group at William Beebe’ grave in the Mucurapo Cemetery. By Johanne Ryan Malcom Strandberg, godson of William and Beebe. We made a stop-over at the Beebe, along with other guests and staff Hilton Hotel at the request of one of our Our special guests visited the grave- visited the Lapeyrouse Cemetery where guests who had visited the hotel when sites of two pivotal figures in the Ása, her husband, Henry Newcombe she worked with Pan American many Centre’s history. The work of both Ása Wright, and Ása’s father are buried.